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A Parent’s
Guide
To Child Protective Services in
New York City
A Parent’s Guide To Child Protective Servicesin New York City
A Parent’s Guide To Child Protective Services in New York City
A Parent’s Guide To Child Protective Services in New York City
Bill de BlasioMayor
Gladys Carrión, Esq. Commissioner
Administration for Children’s Services
Bill de BlasioMayor
Gladys Carrión, Esq. Commissioner
Administration for Children’s Services
Bill de BlasioMayor
Gladys Carrión, Esq. Commissioner
Administration for Children’s Services
Bill de BlasioMayor
Gladys Carrión, Esq. Commissioner
Administration for Children’s Services
Will my child be taken from me?
• ACSmakeseffortstokeepfamiliestogether, includingreferralsforPreventive Servicessuchas counseling,parentskillstraining,drugtreatment, andotherservicestokeepchildrensafeand preventtheneedforthemtoberemovedfrom yourcare. • IftheCPSdeterminesthatyourchildisat immediateriskofharm,theCPSwillaskaFamily Courtjudgetoremovethechild. • TheCPSwillonlyremoveyourchildfromyour carewithoutaskingajudgeifheorshe determinesthattheharmorrisktothechildis immediate.IftheCPSremovesyourchildren withoutaskingajudge,theCPSmustfileapetition inFamilyCourttheverynextbusinessday. • IftheCPSremovesyourchild,youmayaska judgetohaveyourchildimmediatelyreturned. However,ajudgemustholdahearinginorderto makethatdecision.IftheCourtdeterminesthat youareunabletoaffordanattorney,thejudgewill assignyouanattorneyfreeofcharge. • Ifyourchildneedstoberemovedfromyour home,ACSwillaskyouifanyrelativesorclose friendsmightbeabletotemporarilycareforyour child.Afterabackgroundcheckandahome assessment,yourchildmaybeplacedwitha familymemberorclosefriend.Iftheyarenot available,oriftheindividualsyouidentifydonot passasafetyclearance,yourchildmaybe placedinafosterhome.
• Insomecases,theCPSmayaskaFamilyCourt judgefor“Court-OrderedSupervision.”This meansthatyourchildwillnotenterfostercare. TheCourtcanordersupervisionofthehomeofa friendorrelativewhoistemporarilycaringforyour child,orofyourhomewhileyourchildremainsat homeandwillgivespecificinstructionsthatyou mustfollow.Forexample,theCourtmayrequire youtotakeclassesorseeacounselorandwill orderACStocontinuetomonitoryourchild’s safetyforaspecificperiodoftime.
ReachouttotheACSOfficeofAdvocacy • Ifyourproblemorconcernisnotresolvedby talkingwithyourCPSortheirSupervisors,please contacttheACSOfficeofAdvocacy’sParents andChildren’sRightsUnitHelplineat(212)676- 9421,ormeetwithusbetween10AMand5PM at150WilliamStreet,Firstfloor,NewYork,NY 10038.OfficeofAdvocacystaffwillworkwith you,theCPS,andtheSupervisorstoaddress yourconcerns.
• ServicesforfamiliesareavailableineveryNYC neighborhood.Ifyouneedhelpfindingcounseling, childcare,treatmentforsubstanceabuseorany otherprogramthatwillhelpyoucareforyour children,youcancall311andaskforthenearest Preventive Servicesagencyinyourcommunity.Or, youcancallthePreventionandParentHelpline at1-800-CHILDREN.
What happens if the investigation is Unfounded?
• YouwillreceivealetterfromtheStateCentralRegister statingthattheinvestigationwasUnfounded. • TheUnfoundedreportwillbeclosedbutwillstay inthedatabaseandcanbereviewedbyaCPSif thereisafutureSCRconcern. •Unfoundedreportsmustbeexpunged(removed fromthedatabase)10yearsafterthedatereceived bytheSCR. • EveniftheinvestigationisUnfounded,yourCPS mayrecommendorreferyouforoneormore ofthefollowingservices:counseling,parenting skillstraining,oradrugtreatmentprogram.
What happens if the investigation is Indicated?
• YouwillreceivealetterfromtheCPSstatingthat theinvestigationwasIndicated.Theletterwill explainthatyoumayaskforareviewofthat decisionandprovideinstructionsforhowtodoso. • Toreceiveacopyofthereportortorequestthat thedecisionbechangedyoucanwritedirectlyto theOfficeofChildrenandFamilyServicesat: StateCentralRegister P.O.Box4480 Albany,NY12204 • Indicatedrecordsmustbeexpunged10yearsafter theyoungestchildnamedinthereportturnsage18. • Ifyour indicatedreportresultsinFamilyCourt involvement,aCourtjudgemayrequireyoutotake parentingskillstraining,drugtreatment,orgoto counseling.YourCPScanhelpyoufindtheseservices.
The New York City Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) protects New York City’s children from abuse and maltreatment. Along with our community partners, ACS provides neighborhood-based services to help children grow up in safe, permanent homes with strong families. Over 50,000 reports of possible abuse and maltreatment are investigated each year by ACS Child Protective Specialists (CPS).
“ “A Parent’s Guide To Child Protective Servicesin New York City
www.acs.nyc.gov
What is the New York City Administration for Children’sService(ACS)?
TheNewYorkCityAdministrationforChildren’s Services(ACS)protectsNewYorkCity’schildren fromabuseandneglect.Alongwithourcommunity partners,ACSprovidesservicesinneighborhoods alloverthecitytohelpchildrengrowupinsafe, permanenthomeswithstrongfamilies.ACS receivesover50,000reportsofpossibleabuse andneglecteachyear.Wehopethisguideprovides helpfulinformationaboutwhathappenswhenACS receivesaconcernaboutachildinyourcare.
Why has an ACS Child Protective Specialist (CPS)contactedme?
YouhavebeencontactedbecauseACShas receivedaconcernfromtheNewYorkState CentralRegister(SCR)ofChildAbuseand Maltreatmentthatachildinyourcaremaynotbe safe.Achildisnotsafewhenheorsheisabused (hurt)orneglected(nottakencareof)byhisor herparent,guardianorpersonresponsibleforthe child’scare.ACSisrequiredbylawtoinvestigate allreportsofpossibleabuseorneglectthatwe receivefromtheSCR.
AChildProtectiveSpecialist(CPS)isanACS employeewhohasbeentrainedtoworkwith familiestoassessthesafetyofchildrenandhelp familymembersinobtainingassistance.
Who Can I Talk With To Get More Information? TalkfirsttotheCPSand,ifnecessary,theirSupervisors.
Ifyouarethesubjectofareportofabuseorneglect,please talk with your CPS about any concerns orquestionsaboutyourcase.Ifyoustillhavequestions or concerns, you should reach out to the CPS’ Supervisor.IftheSupervisorisunabletoresolveyourconcerns, you should contact the Child ProtectiveManager. The Supervisor must provide you his/hercontactinformation.
____________________________ CPS Name
______________________________________CPS Telephone Number
______________________________________CPS Supervisor’s Name
______________________________________CPS Supervisor’s Number
______________________________________CPS Protective Manager’s Name
______________________________________CPS Protective Manager’s Number
IfyouwouldprefertocommunicatewithyourCPS inalanguageotherthanEnglish,CPSwillprovidea freeinterpreter.Youmayalsorequestthatdocuments containingimportantinformationaboutyourcase beprovidedtoyouinyourpreferredlanguage.If documentsinyourlanguagearenotavailable,the CPSwillhaveaninterpreterexplainthemtoyouin yourlanguage.Youmayalsoreceiveinterpretation servicesifyouaredeaforhearing-impaired.
What is child abuse?
Abuseoccurswhenachild’sbodyisbeingharmed andmayinclude:physicalabuse,suchaspunching, kicking,bruising,burningorbreakingbonesand/or itmayincludesexualabuse,suchassexualactivity withachild,usingachildforprostitution,orinvolving achildinpornography.
What is child neglect?
Neglectoccurswhenachilddoesnotreceivewhat heorsheneedsandmayincludeaparentfailing toprovide:adequatesupervision,sufficientfood, appropriatemedicalcare,appropriateclothing,or accesstoeducation.Neglectcouldalsoinclude leavingachildaloneorwithaninappropriate caretaker,insultingachildormakingthechildfeel afraid,takingdrugsordrinkingalcoholtothepoint ofnotbeingabletoadequatelytakecareofachild.
Why would someone report a concern to the SCR?
Anypersonwhobelievesthatachildisunsafe maycallinaconcernofabuseorneglecttothe SCR.Somepeople,suchasdoctors,nurses,school teachers,orsocialworkers,arerequiredbylawto calltheSCRiftheythinkthataparentorcaregiveris abusingorneglectingtheirchild.Somereasonsthat peoplecalltheSCRmayinclude: •Achildhasunexplainedinjuries •Ayoungorspecialneedschildwhoisleftalone •Achildhashealthneedsthatarenotbeingmet •Achildisfrequentlyabsentfromschoolwithout avalidexcuse
Anyone can report a concern to the SCR. ACSis requiredbylawtoinvestigateallreportsmadeto theSCR,whetherornottheconcernsturnouttobe true.Ifsomeoneintentionallyreportsafalseconcern totheSCR,thisisconsideredacrime;theperson makingafalsereportmaybeprosecuted.
Will I be told who made the complaint?
No.ThelawdoesnotpermitACStoletyouknowthe identityofthepersonwhoreportedtheconcern.The person’sidentityiskeptconfidential.Youwillbetold whatwassaid,butnotwhoreportedit.
What happens after a concern is reported?
WhenACSreceivesareportfromtheSCR,aCPS mustassesstheconcernstofindoutiftheyaretrue.
• TheCPSwillbeginaninvestigationwithin 24 hoursofreceivingthereport.Heorshewill giveyoualetterthatsaysthatyouarebeing investigatedforpossibleabuseorneglect.The CPSmaymakeanunannouncedvisittoyour homeandwillmeetwithyou,yourchild,and otherpeopleinyourhousehold.Duringthevisit, theCPSwillassessyourhometomakesurethat youaremeetingtheneedsofthechildwholives there(forexampleifthehomeisfreeofhazards oryouhaveenoughfood). •Duringtheinvestigation,theCPSmayalsospeak withteachers,visityourchild’sschoolordaycare, andspeakwithotherswhoknowyouoryourfamily includingneighbors,andhealthcareproviders. •Within60calendardays,theCPSwillcomplete theinvestigation.IftheCPSfindsenoughproof thatthechildhasbeenabusedorneglected, theinvestigationwillbe“Indicated.”IftheCPS doesnotfindproofthatthechildhasbeen abusedorneglected,theinvestigationwillbe “Unfounded”.Youwillbenotifiedofthefinal decisionviapostalmail. •IftheCPSdeterminesthatyourchildrenare atriskofharm,theCPSwillscheduleaChild SafetyConference(CSC).Youwillbeasked toattendandyoumaybringfamilymembers orotherswhocansupportyou.Youwillalso beofferedtheservicesofaParentAdvocate. AttheConference,theCPSwillsharehisor herconcernsaboutyourchild’ssafety,andall participantswilldiscusswhatcanbedoneto helpkeepyourchildsafe.
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